Side A now 25 years old & going strong

It is often said that Side A is the No. 1 Filipino band. True. No other pop band around can stand up against Side A’s list of accomplishments or its vaunted command of the stage during performances. And this claim to fame gets even more impressive when you find out that this has been so for the past 25 years.

Yes. It has now been 25 years since a group of musician friends from other bands got together to become Side A. This means that it has been that long ago when you were holding hands with your boyfriend while Side A was playing Hold On and only a little less than that when you were drinking and dancing to the tune of Tuloy Pa Rin at the Music Hall on Annapolis in Greenhills.

And would you believe, there is now a new generation that has discovered the music of Side A and which will most likely pass it on to the next. There have been some changes in membership over the years but the sound has remained the same.

This distinctive sound is one of the main reasons for Side A’s longevity. You always know it the song is by Side A. It is nothing earthshaking. Just good, well-made music that goes from light acoustic to power rock and is commercially appealing. It also helps that the members are talented musicians who consistently work on keeping their music up to date.

The other big reason is the songs. Side A has been blessed with songs that have endured over the years and which are now considered contemporary classics. They have released 20 studio albums, two live recordings and two compilations. These have resulted in a long list of hits.

Hold On, Love Will Find A Way, Forevermore, Windows Of Our Souls, I Believe in Dreams, So Many Questions, All This Time, Only You There Will Never Be Another, By Your Side, True Love Can Always Wait, Set You Free, Endlessly, This Girl’s So Right For Me, Tuloy Pa Rin Ako, Dream On, Di Pa Huli, Tell Me, If Only, Let The Pain Remain and Ang Aking Awitin are among those that easily come to mind.

Side A today is made up of Joey Generoso on lead vocals and guitar; Leevon Cailao on lead guitar and vocals; Kirk Gonzales on keyboard and vocals; Ned Esguerra on bass guitar and vocals; and Ernie Severino on drums and vocals.

Coincidentally, they will be performing with a group that is also celebrating its 25th year in the business, The CompanY for the very first time. Just as Side A is the country’s leading pop band, The CompanY is the country’s premier vocal group. That means there will be 25 years’ worth of hits by two Filipino acts in a single show.

Think of The CompanY singing Side A’s Forevermore and of Side A doing The CompanY’s Now That I Have You or the two groups together in a pulsating medley of hits by Sergio Mendez & Brazil 66. Nice. This is quite a treat, or better yet, a feat and should not be missed.

Presented by Viva Concerts, In The Company of Side A will be held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila on Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are now available at Ticketworld (with tel. no. 891-9999) and the RWM Box Office. Prices are VIP at P3,500; Premiere, Left, Right and Center at P3,500; De Luxe Left and Right at P3,000; and Balcony at P2,500.

Still on great show music. 70’s Relived will be back at the Teatrino on the Greenhills Promenade on Saturday, Sept. 17. The first two shows sold out so Tillie Moreno, Jacqui Magno, Pat Castillo, Ding Mercado and Eugene Villaluz decided it would be fun to do another.

Ding and Eugene were both members of the group The New Minstrels while Tillie, Jacqui and were the girls of the Circus Band. Both groups started out and rose to fame in the 70s. They dominated the local music scene with packed nights at the old nightclub row on Roxas Blvd. during the Martial Law era. That means that they do music they are experts in during this show.